A journal about life in Wisconsin, decorating, and restoring an 1893 Queen Anne Victorian built by Civil War veteran John Olson Wrolstad and his wife Mathea. Read on to see lots of old photographs, and read stories of the second owners Thomas and Maren Quien, and their children who filled the house with memories for 90 years.
Very First Photo I Took of the House Feb 18, 2001 - 30 minutes after we bought the house.

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Monday, August 29, 2011

I asked the store owner to bring him down for closer inspection. Wow, he's a pretty bird.

I call him Henry, after the previous owner's son, and because I like the name.

Henry Wrolstad 1882-1903

I put Henry the Bird in the kitchen, on top of the east wall of cabinets--about the same height as he appeared in the store. Every once in a while, someone noticed the bird looking down at them.

Time to give Henry some attention.

Henry is sits on a 12" post, mounted on a piece of plywood.

This month I moved Henry to the red dining room. Gathering some fern, and fall colored orange-gold leafed brown branches, I covered the plywood base with moss and foliage.

Henry takes up a heap of space on the mantle,

but all dressed up here he is center stage in the dining room.

Henry Makes Special Appearance for House Guests:

I hosted a group of 70 guests August 13, welcoming the Wrolstad Family Reunion. Their ancester John Olsen Wrolstad built our house in 1893. The dining room table was filled with hydrangea, accompanied by trays of butterscotch oatmeal cookies, and iced lemonade made by my mother Lorraine.

I was so busy with guests, I forgot about photographing the event. What was I thinking???

I want to thank the Wrolstad Family Reunion for taking time to tour our house, and for the kind words about the whole house restoration.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I pass by the East bedroom every morning. As a guest bedroom it is spacious and comfortable. Decorated with some personal items from the previous owners.

Above is the entrance to the East bedroom (from the hallway, I'm currently working on).

The entire house has same woodwork style--a sawtooth crown with a spoon carved daisy.

Let's go in, and take a look.

A walnut dressing table holds some vintage and antique items. A statue of Chattelaine found in an second-hand bookstore caught my attention. I walked by her for three years. I asked about purchasing her over the years but she was not for sale.

If you ask, sometimes you receive. I must have asked about the statue at least 10 times. The last time, the clerk felt motivated to call the owner about my request offer. She shows a bit of attitude--that must be why I like her.

Toile fabric for sewing the drapes and pillow shams.

Cheap and Free

Good Bargains

I purchased the comforter at a second hand store for $25.

Then I found a bolt of the same fabric at Hancock, $6 per yard

and made the drapes and pillow shams.

The Cream and Black Toile comforter was the jumping off point for decorating the East bedroom.

Another thrift shop find--an antique foot rest. For me, a short person hopping up on to a tall mattress, the foot rest is THE BEST. I didn't recover it, even though the ivory fabric is stained.

I like it stained. I appreciate its function.

The sleigh bed sits on a large off-white area rug over an expresso painted floor.

On another treasure hunt, I found a pair of old lamp shades in such ragged shape, I forgot about photographing them before ripping off the tattered stained remains of what used to be ivory satin.

Using left over drapery fabric, I covered one of the shades in linen, a cream and black toile.

It took forever to hand sew this shade. And truth be told, I covered it first in white brocade and didn't like it--and tore it off, to start all over again with the toile.

I always have good collaboration with Hancock Fabrics employees, and they helped me pick out two layers of fancy black trim. We get serious when we get down to the details.

You know, I had nice toys when I was a kid.

BUT, now I have awesome toys at age 60!

My friend Kathy and I found a little whole in the wall shop during one of our weekend treasure hunts.

In a corner sat this dusty vintage lamp base. And the lamp base said to me, "come here, we need to talk."

The price was $25. I almost didn't buy it because $25 is twice what I usually pay.

Then I rubbed my hand over the high relief design on the glass base. Yup, gotta have this one.

Washing it up, adding missing crystals--its just a fabulous piece. That's why I fussed over it, pairing it with just the right shade, fabric, and trim.

Check out the scroll work on the base holding the glass.

This 9' x 12' off white area rug was $99 at . . .

wait for it . . .

Fleet Farm, Stevens Point

What a shocker. Quality on the Cheap.

Believe me, this rug has a sumptuous feel on bare feet.

A great bargain

I purchased more of those large area room rugs in different colors

at Fleet Farm for the other bedrooms.

In the corner is a rather fine looking floor lamp, purchased in a Poi Sippi thrift shop for $35.

I'll attached some detail photos.

I love the walnut 4-drawer dresser, won at auction (holding my breath) and getting it for $100. The drawer operates without flaw, and the finish is remarkable.

Ragnhild Bertine Quien's teacher's briefcase sits on a chair in the East bedroom (her room when she lived in our house).

It was quite a surprise to receive an email from Laurie, owner of Reflections Antiques, questioning me about a briefcase she had acquired with intials R.B.Q. I jumped at the chance to buy it and bring it home to Ragnhild's room.

I found a couple of Ragnhild's handwritten letters and keep them inside her briefcase.

Above and Below are details of the floor lamp. The base reminds me of a decorated cake.

The bridge of the lamp is way cool.

The Smith Corona typewriter - do you have an idea what year it was manufacturered?

This Westinghouse electric fan has original paint, and someone's original finger prints that had some white paint that stuck to the finish. The fan works great; I gave it to Jon a year ago (gift).

Someday the fan will leave the East bedroom and make its home in Jon's man cave.

Isn't it wicked how heavy the old typewriters were?

Beaded shade. I call it a hula shade. Is there a special name for this type of shade?

This is Ragnhild Quien's sister. Her name is Bessie Pauline (Quien) Pasternacki. Bessie married Leon Pasternacki a dentist, and known as the youngest mayor ever of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Bessie married Leon Pasternacki in 1914.

I was in a local antiques store. The shopkeeper told me, "I believe I have a couple photographs of women who used to live in your house." I was happy to see they were a 1906 Scandinavia Academy graduation class photo--students with their teacher Miss Ragnhild Quien,

and

The other photo was this very lovely photo of Bessie Pauline, probably taken around 1915 after she married Leon Pasternacki. I keep it in the East bedroom where the light is low and I can shelter and display her beautiful portrait.

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About Me

I work out of my studio as a free style long arm quilter, and designer of beaded handbags and soft luggage.
Since 2007 my husband and I have been restoring a Queen Anne Victorian. The majority of projects are finished after eight years. But, I don't think one ever finishes work on hundred year old home.
Our journal
http://www.1893victorianfarmhouse.blogspot.com shares our life here in rural Wisconsin with many before and after restoration photos and history of the two previous owner families. We feel honored to repair this old house and give it another hundred years of life.
I have lots of hobbies, most of them a result of the restoration project. I love to sew draperies, quilting queen size bed quilts, machine embroider fine linens, re-cover vintage lampshades and upholster chairs. I've become good at repairing interior walls, and scraping, priming, and painting the exterior of the house. Its hard work, but a satisfying journey.
I hope you become a follower of my blog. I have lots of photos to share with you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. D